Improvement in clamps for polish-rods for oil-wells



1 W ggle 11 1 3 m.

, O. SICKELS. Clamp for Polish-Rods for Oil-Wells. No 216,112.,

Patented June 3, I879.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIUE.

CHARLES SlGKELS, OF ROUSEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLAMPS FOR POLISH-RODS FOR OIL-WELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,112, dated J 11110 3, 1879 application filed March 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OrmnLns SIoKELs, of Rouseville, in the county of Venan go and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Polish-Rods; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to a clamp adapted to connect a polish-rod to a walking-beam in a manner which will permit of the vertical adjustment of the same.

The improvement is designed to allow the desired change in the height of the polislrrod to be effected readily and easily; and to this end the invention consists in certain details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be described, and pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of a device representing the invention as the polish-rod is in clamped position between the jaws. Fig. 2 shows the jaws as open. Fig. 3 is a view of the side not shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the locking portion of the clamp-jaws.

The device is adapted for use as a polish-rod adjuster for oil, gas water, or other wells, and may be employed in clamping any suita ble polish-rod, whether the latter be circular in cross-section, as shown in the drawings, or square, flat, or of other form.

The T or cross-bar A is designed to be attached to the end of an engine walking-beam, on the under or lower side thereof, and to be secured in place by hook-bolts, a block of wood, or other detachable fastening.

This manner of connection, which permits of a ready engagement or disengagement of clamp-rod to the walking-beam, is preferable, though it should be understood that a fixed connection between said parts will not affect my invention, as the latter pertains to the clamp proper.

This clamp is formed of the two hinged jaws B and 0, whose clamping-faces are provided with recesses or openings, adapted, when the clamp is in closed position, to correspond to the peculiar form of any particular polishrod which may be fitted therein.

The free ends of the jaws are respectively provided with a lateral projection, a, and a counterpart recess, 1), which interlock and constitute a firm connection. This form of engagement causes the strain which is imposed by the polish-rod upon both jaws to be transferred to the one jaw which singly connects with the walking-beam, in such a manner as to prevent any undue strain .upon either of said jaws, and at the same time hold the p01- ish-rod in true and working position.

The free ends of the jaws are adj ustably fastened together by a screw-bolt, 1), formed with a T-head, which works within an open slot, 0, formed in one of said free ends,"and a hole, d, .formed in the other.

By loosening the nut E a very little the T end of the bolt may be thrown out of the slot, and the free jaw thrown open as a gate, thus leaving the polish-rod perfectly free and disengaged.

It will be observed that according to my invention adjustment in height of the polish-rod may be effected without surmounting the walking-beam, inasmuch as the T or cross-bar securing the clamp thereto is connected with the lower side of said beam.

It will further be observed that any length of adjustment may be obtained, since the polish-rod may be dropped down so as to have'its top in horizontal plane with said clamp or it may, on the other hand, he raised to any desired. height above the clamp. With this latter end in view the walking-beam may be provided with a vertical opening adapted to permit of the passage of the polish-rod; also, it is ap parent that little friction upon the polish-rod is caused in the use of the device, for the rea son that the clamp is near the line of draft or vertical working center of said rod.

I am aware that polish-rod clamps have had open slots formed in one of the hinged jaws, and the fasteningbolt provided with a crossbar which interlocks within said open slot and hence I make no claim to such construe tion of parts.

tion of said tenon on the opposite jaw, of a screw-bolt having an elongated head with fiat under face, said elongated head constructed of loss width than that of the open slot in the hinged jaw, whereby the bolt-head, when turned at right angles to the open slot, serves to hold the jaws in position, but when turned in line with the slot the free ends of the jaws can be readily separated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

-In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of February, 1879.

CHARLES SIOKELS.

Witnesses:

FRANK EVANS, THos. W. DUNN. 

